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Choosing the best weight loss app for you

Last modified by Oviva · Checked by Lucy Diamond · November 7, 2024

Weight loss apps offer features that help with everything from food and activity logging to meal planning and goal-setting. However, with so many weight loss apps out there, it’s understandable if you’re not sure which is the best weight loss app for you.

In this article, we’ll provide an overview of some of the most popular weight loss apps, so you can make a more informed decision about the ideal solution for your needs.

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Key Takeaways

  • The best weight loss app will support meal planning, food and activity tracking, target setting, and healthy living tips.
  • Some of the most popular apps include Noom, MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, WW and Oviva.
  • The Oviva app is funded by the NHS and designed by healthcare professionals. It also provides various tracking tools and personalised support options.
  • You could be eligible for Oviva’s weight management programme if you have a BMI over 30 and relevant comorbidities, like asthma, depression, diabetes or heart disease.
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Table of Contents

What makes a good weight loss app?

Comparing popular weight loss apps

The benefits of using an NHS-approved weight loss app

What makes a good weight loss app?

A good weight loss app will have all of the classic features:

    • Goal-setting, which allows you to set clear targets that will help with motivation.
    • Tracking capabilities, including food, mood and physical activity monitoring.
    • Meal planning that enables you to learn how to build healthy, satisfying meals.
    • Healthy living guides that help you make beneficial lifestyle changes.

But what makes a good weight loss app the best? 

The very best weight loss apps are backed by scientific research and supported by healthcare professionals. They also take data protection seriously, treating your personal information with the respect and sensitivity it deserves.

Woman using tablet

Another feature that separates the very best apps from the rest is personalisation. Each person’s weight loss journey is unique. To be effective, weight loss apps need to consider this. 

That’s why the best weight loss apps offer aspects like: 

    • Personal coaching, and lessons on everything from mindful eating to coping with cravings.
    • Mental health support with on-hand psychologists so you can build healthy habits and make long-term change. 
    • Instant meal feedback with the help of innovative AI technology. This helps you understand if your meal is balanced or lacks nutrients. 

For those eligible for the service, these features can be found in the free Oviva app.

Several popular weight loss apps are available, each with its own features, target audience, and underlying technology.

Noom

Noom is a subscription weight loss service that strongly appeals to younger adults thanks to its gamification elements. While it’s on the pricier side of weight loss apps, its ‘vibes’ system rewards healthy habits and can help keep people engaged in their weight loss efforts.

Noom has personal coaches and uses a traffic light system, with green foods encouraged, yellow foods accepted in moderation, and red foods the most restricted.

The Noom Med service provides access to GLP-1 weight loss medications.

WW (Weight Watchers)

WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers, is perhaps one of the best-known weight loss programmes in the UK which is now all available on their app. 

One of WW‘s key features is a points system, with different foods awarded different scores. The overall aim of the WW programme is to adopt a diet that does not exceed your daily points allowance, which is useful for short-term weight gain.

You can’t get weight loss medication through Weight Watchers. However, if you’re already on weight loss medication, you can use the GLP-1 Programme in their app – it’s designed to support lifestyle changes, like nutrition, alongside your medication.

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Yazio

Yazio is a popular weight loss app often promoted as a free alternative to Noom and WW. However, the free version has severely restricted features, and the best weight loss results require the paid Yazio Pro app.

In terms of its approach to weight loss, Yazio is similar to Noom and WW. The ultimate aim is to eat a diet with a calorie deficit. Its focus on the weight loss essentials can be appealing, but the app does not provide access to professional coaches or weight loss medication.

Fitbit

The Fitbit app is designed to be a companion app for the brand’s wearable technology, including smartwatches and fitness trackers. It allows you to track food, weight, daily steps, sleep, and other health indicators and behaviours.

Nevertheless, much of the app’s functionality is based around the presence of Fitbit devices. The app also does not provide any personal coaching around diet and exercise and Fitbit does not provide access to weight loss medications.

MyFitnessPal

Another popular weight loss app is MyFitnessPal, which provides features like food logging, exercise tracking, recipes, and recommended food plans. The core tracking features are free, but some more advanced features are behind a paywall.

MyFitnessPal is a good option for tracking meals and workouts and accessing recipes, but it does not provide personalised coaching to embed behavioural change. MyFitnessPal does not provide access to weight loss medications.

Second Nature

Second Nature is a weight loss programme designed by dietitians and psychologists. The companion app has some great features, including tracking and coaching. However, the price of using the service is high – prohibitively so for many people.

Second Nature is available through the NHS and can be accessed for free in some circumstances. It’s primarily linked to the NHS’ diabetes prevention programme rather than general weight management and is limited to specific locations. Weight loss medication like Wegovy is available as part of this service.

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Oviva

Oviva is a weight management service and available on the NHS. Eligible patients are referred to the programme and gain access to the smartphone app. This app provides features like food logging, activity tracking and goal-setting. Users also receive personalised coaching from healthcare professionals, while AI features provide instant meal feedback.

Oviva’s focus is creating a personalised plan for each unique weight loss journey. That’s why there’s no specific diet or system – our healthcare professionals will get to know you and tailor your plan accordingly. Oviva also provides access to prescription weight loss medication.

The priority is long-term behavioural changes that promote not only weight loss but also weight management. You’ll receive expert support, steering you towards the best diet for weight loss that’s unique to you.

Oviva App Screen Goal setting

Monitor your goals

Receive personalised recommendations to help you to work towards your goal. Log your food, mood, water intake, exercise and other health metrics using the Oviva app. 

Keep a food journal

Snap photos of your daily meals effortlessly within the Oviva app.

Get meal analysis

Get an in-depth meal analysis instantly with a daily summary of your diet.

Stay connected

Connect with your Oviva coach anytime through the app.

Browse learning resources

Written by Oviva’s team of experts, explore advice on nutrition, exercise, and motivation to guide you through the programme and maximise long term weight maintenance.

The benefits an NHS-funded weight loss app

By choosing a weight loss app that’s funded by the NHS, you can trust that the app and its information are medically sound.

An NHS-funded weight loss app can also help to protect your mental health. Some people may find aspects of popular apps to be triggering, like calorie counting or using points-based systems. This kind of one-size-fits-all approach may not be appropriate for you. 

If you have access to professional support, your mental health, individual needs and your relationship with food can be factored into your weight loss plan.

Access to evidence-based strategies and personalised support is crucial for successful weight management. We’re pioneering technology and combining this with expert clinicians.

Lucy Diamond, Clinical Director at Oviva

Oviva is an NHS-funded weight loss app and weight management service.

Healthcare professionals designed the Oviva weight loss app. An actual human will review your input, and you’ll benefit from personalised feedback. You’ll find evidence-based content within the app created by professional dietitians, psychologists, GPs, nurses and other experts.

Oviva’s weight loss programme will help you build positive habits related to diet and exercise, and can support access to prescription weight loss drugs.

See if you’re eligible

Oviva patient success stories:

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Heidi (53)

The programme so far has surpassed all my expectations and dreams. The improvements I have made to my health have been so worth the efforts. I am enjoying using the Oviva app!
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Martin (34)

The monthly telephone appointments with my dietitian were so helpful, she always kept me motivated. I learnt how to start building healthy habits.
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Patricia (53)

I enjoyed speaking with my dietitian via the Oviva app as I could fit it into my schedule. The advice, tips and support I got from my Psychologist were extremely helpful.